Hayashi Japanese Steakhouse — Restaurant in Albuquerque

A Culinary Performance: A Fresh Take on the Japanese Grill Experience

Step into this Japanese-style grill, and you’ll immediately sense that it’s anything but ordinary. Far removed from the cookie-cutter hibachi experiences that dominate the scene, this establishment elevates the concept, combining stellar food with an engaging atmosphere that feels both celebratory and intimate. Whether you’re dining with family, friends, or a large party, this is the kind of place that turns a meal into a memory.

Service with Personality

From the moment you’re seated, the energy in the room is palpable. The chefs here don’t just cook; they perform, blending their culinary expertise with humor and showmanship. This isn’t the tired act of clanging spatulas and onion volcanos—though you might see a few nods to those classics. Instead, it’s a refined yet approachable interaction, tailored to the crowd at hand. Our chef balanced sharp wit with genuine warmth, making the table feel like a unified party rather than just a collection of diners. For large groups, this dynamic is particularly effective, as the shared laughter and engagement create an instant sense of camaraderie.

Flavors that Sing

But of course, a grill can’t succeed on personality alone—and thankfully, the food here more than matches the theatrics. Each dish is a symphony of flavors, meticulously crafted to balance savory richness with the lighter, nuanced notes of Japanese cuisine. From perfectly seared proteins to vegetables that still retained their natural snap, every bite was a testament to the kitchen’s commitment to quality.

Particularly noteworthy was the filet mignon, tender enough to cut with a chopstick and seasoned to perfection, and the shrimp, which were plump, juicy, and kissed with just the right amount of char. Even the fried rice—often an afterthought at many similar venues—was a standout, its texture fluffy and its flavor profile complex enough to shine as more than just a side dish.

Family-Friendly Without Compromise

What truly sets this place apart is its ability to cater to all ages without losing its sense of sophistication. Parents will appreciate the thoughtful accommodations for little ones: a dedicated kids’ menu featuring approachable options and a staff that goes out of its way to make children feel included. Yet despite this kid-friendly approach, the restaurant never feels like...

If you want to have the worst service and have it ruin your night go to Hayashi for dinner. Went there last night, the waiter did not come to our table for 20 minutes... When he did we ordered drinks, appetizers and sushi as we knew what we wanted after being there for that long. Two minutes after he got our order (without writing it down) he came back and said he didn't understand the order, so we went through it again. He still said it DIDN'T MAKE sense to him and this is when his notepad came down to actually take the order... So I explained it twice more, then my wife who is more patient explained the order again and had him read it back to us. So we have now been at the restaurant over 45 minutes and still no drinks. 15 minutes later the server comes out with his manager, who tells us she is there to help us get our order straight WHAT??? Our order is straight forward as we had been to this place over 200 times and have their menu memorized.... Now she got the order we asked her if it was clear and she said it will be right out... 10 minutes later she comes back (still no drinks or salads) and she says she really doesn't understand, but she is there to help us... I told her that was not acceptable and we were about ready to leave and she said they are busy so either we wanted to order or leave. I called her manager something name Fook who told me they are busy and he really doesn't have time to deal with customer service issues, if there was a problem their restaurant would not be as busy as it was... By the way, there was no wait when we got there and there was plenty of seats available so not sure what their definition...

We had a mixed experience. It was a mid day Tuesday and mildly busy. A few people at maybe 4 grills and 1 occupied table. They asked us if we wanted a hibachi table or a side table, explaining it as loud or quiet. We went quiet.

For a new spot for us, we were pretty happy with the food. The fish was in good balance with the roll. Some of the eel rolls were more fall apart-y but they tasted really good so that's fine. The sweet potato roll was done more intentionally thinner and curled around the inside to prevent the undercooked nature that roll can have. It was still pretty hard though. The gyoza was good, hubby loved his hibachi food. This miso didn't hit for him.

I hovered between a 3 and 4 because the service was truly awful. We couldn't fix order errors, get what we ordered, get our sauces, get refills, etc. The few times we did see him it was extremely rushed. He had a habit of addressing the other table and expecting us to ear drop. We put it together after he rushed out that he said the restaurant won't schedule enough people so he's running between hibachi and the quiet area and he tends to 'neglect it back here'.

I actually prefer lowkey, no worries-type service, but the balance between that and the rushed, surface smile, 'Hurry it up, I got work ta do!' energy as soon as he walked in had me very bothered by the end of it. It had me feeling like I needed to clock in. I wouldn't take it out on the tip around the holidays, but I don't think I'd come back unless we did the...